Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-02-18

Estimated.
Al least two lines of railway are believed to
be beaded for the Territorial capital, one of
which ~ the Roscoe extension OF the Chicago,
Milwaukee and st. Paul, and the other at pres
ont an independent line projected from Aber-
deem. Both lines are shown and appropri-
atcly defined on the diagram given herewith.
The roads completed on Jan. ], 1856; the
newly-added mileage of that year; the roads
under construction, and the probable or pro-
posed extensions for 1887, are separately indi-
Gated on the diagram.
Bridges across the Missouri River at Yank-
ton, Pierre and Chamberlain are among the
assured probabilities of an early future, every
til ing depending in the case of the railroad
crossings at Pierre and Chamberlain on the
Opening of the Sioux Reservation.
There are four cities in the Territory which
havethe distinct lines of three railway compa-
MES. namely, Fargo. Sioux Falls, Watertown
and Aberdeen. OF these, Aberdeen and Wa
way in one case, and graded in the other.
Having regard only to the number OF
through and branch lines, as at present oper-
ated, without considering ownership, the rail
road centers are to be grouped as follows:
Aberdeen and Fargo, each, five lines; Sioux
Forks, Huron, jamestown, Mitchell, Redfeld
and Yankton, each, three lines. OF the latter
group, Grand Forks, Redfeld and Yankton are
to be credited with two separate railroads
| each.
During 1887 the construction of lines al
ready graded will give Mitchell and Water
town each all additional railroad under separ-
ate management, and the building of other
new lines and extentions will probably do as
much, at least for Aberdeen and Bismarck,
and may do tho same for Huron, jamestown
and Pierre. Aberdeen and Bismarck are each
hopeful of securing two new roads within the
next twelve months; Watertown has nearly as
strong hopes of a second new road; Sioux Falls
is reaching out after another line, and there
are q number of projected enterprises, several
Of which may tlke shape during the year, but
which at the present time bring up the rear of
the immense possibilities of Dakota for the flu
ture.
The total railroad mileage of Dakota, bear
ing date Of Dec. 81, 1886, is ., 49l miles.
One company has a mileage of over 1000
miles, namely, the Chicago, Milwaukee and
st. Paul Hallway, with l,O46 miles.
THE BLACK HILLS.
The building of the railroad to Rapid City,
coupled with the assurance of an extension Of
this line on further around and into the Hills,
and the building at an early day of other lines
the country to this. the richest corner Of the
kingdom, an area Of little more than 6,0OO
square miles, and yet q world in itself, pos
sessing every variety of mineral and other re-
sources, which as yet remain largely undis-
covered to the world outside.
i lie VA kAO A4Al1 V4IS
rest of Dakota, no matter how many railroads
might be built up from the south-although,
for that matter, there is only room for a few
roads at most, in that direction or any other,
west of the 105d degree of longitude-would
be fatal to its prospects, being at the same
time within and yet without the present Terri
| tory to which it would appear to be attached,
according to the map.
There il cause for congratulation over the
passage even of the Dawes bill, under the cir
.>,tc ,,oa. n1%h0,,rI N,1oh roooop for roorot
at what appears to be the necessity either of
accepting what is in many respects worse than
o halfway measure of dealing with the In
dams, in the present and for the future, or to
take nothing instead.
FUTURE NEEDS M Ian
1t is respectfully and earnestly submitted,
tn begin with. that with the demand existing
abroad for reliable and complete information
respecting what are popularity classed as the
Free Home States of The West, as well as con
corning all such opportunities for the speedy
and cheap requirement of homes as are offered
in any section of the country, no State or Ter
ritorv, situated as Dakota i, can afford to
withhold, or not to freely dispense the same
with an open and liberal hand, 80 long as the
viting the healthy, active competition of west
and south, and Of Dakota with Nebraska, and
with Kansas, in the great field where the self
interest at stake is so happily serving the ends
of humanity and utility.
pamphlet descriptive of the whole Territory,
which would cover the common ground of
general inquiry regarding soil, climate, pro-
auctions, etc.
This pamphlet should be we'll illustrated and
credible in every way, and should be accom-
panied by an excellent map.
The Territory should then be taken up by
physical and geographical divisions, and treat
cd more in detail in separate publications of
smaller size, designed to meet such inquiries
as might have a more direct and local appllca-
ton.
Then there ought to be a handbook of in
formation relating to the public lands, to be
scattered broadcast, printed in several Ian
guagcs, and carrying a smaller map, showing
about where the vacant lands lie.
The foreign emigra ion work of the Office
has been neglected simply from necessity, as
elsewhere explained in this report But it
on.ht not to 10 longer allowed to lanSuisa.